Molecular Optimization Via Exercise (MOVE)

An Observational Study of Aging Biomarkers in Older Elite Athletes Compared to Non-exercising Healthy Older Adults.

This study is to investigate characteristics of muscle, blood, and urine samples from older adults (ages 65-80) who are either sedentary or athletes performing at an elite level for their age. This observational study will include bio-specimen collection, as well as physical and cognitive function testing and body composition.

Study Overview

• Status: Recruiting
• Conditions: Aging
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Observational

Detailed Description

The study will enroll a total of 80 subjects-20 of each gender for each cohort. Participation in the study involves 3 visits that must take place within 12 weeks. Optional l follow up visits may be completed at 12- and 24- months after completion of the main study.

The first visit is a screening and enrollment visit. At this visit, informed consent will be obtained and a detailed medical history, screening blood sample collected, and physical assessment will be performed (including, but not limited to vital signs, resting ECG, body composition). Additionally, an exercise history interview will be performed to assess for cohort eligibility. Participants will be familiarized with testing equipment during the screening visit and will perform the Astrand-Rhyming submaximal bicycle test. A short physical function testing battery will be performed, including the short physical performance battery, 6 minute walk test, grip strength, 1 rep max leg press, and leg press fatigue testing.

The second visit will include maximal exercise testing, quality of life assessment, and cognitive function testing. Participants will be allocated into their cohort at this visit.

The third visit will include thigh muscle sample collection via needle biopsy and blood sample collection.

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Estimated): 80

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: Briannaa Stubbs, DPhil; Phone Number: 4152092000; Email: bstubbs@buckinstitute.org
• Study Contact Backup: Name: John C Newman, MD PhD

Study Locations

• United States
  • California
    • Novato, California, United States, 94945
      • Recruiting
      • Buck Institute for Research on Aging
      • Contact: Brianna Stubbs, DPhil; Phone Number: 6709 415-209-2000; Email: bstubbs@buckinstitute.org

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Older Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Male and female Older Endurance Athletes (OEA) at/over the age of 65 - 80 y (exercising at an elite level for their age - assessed by interview and review of training data and competition/results)

Male and female Healthy Older Adults (HOA) at/over the age of 65 -80 y who do not regularly exercise (no more than one day per week lasting no more than 60 mins of regular structured exercise)

Description

1. Willing and able to provide consent to take part in the MOVE-1 Main Study.
2. Willing and able to attend study visits and comply with all procedures of study data collection visits.
3. Able to read and speak English well enough to provide informed consent and understand instructions.
4. Healthy adults between the age of 65 - 80 y.
5. BMI >19 to < 35 kg/m2
6. No personal plans (i.e., vacations or medical procedures) during the expected study period (Screening, Test Visit 1, 2 and Sample Collection Visit).

7. Older Elite Athletes (OEA):

   • Evidence of current physical activity at an elite level for their age, as well as a consistent history of high activity level. This is assessed by interview, review of training data and/or competition results, and by review of the VO2 max data obtained during Testing Visit 1.

8. Healthy Older Adults (HOA):

   • Sedentary, defined as self-reporting no more than 1 day per week, lasting no more than 60 minutes, of regular (structured) endurance exercise [e.g., brisk walking, jogging, running, cycling, elliptical, or swimming activity that results in feelings of increased heart rate, rapid breathing, and/or sweating] or resistance exercise (resulting in muscular fatigue) in the past year.
   • Persons bicycling as a mode of transportation to and from work >1 day/week etc. are not considered sedentary.
   • Leisure walkers are included unless they meet the heart rate, breathing, and sweating criteria noted above.
   • Does not have a physically active job, no history of physically active job (i.e., postal worker, fire officer
   • No history of consistent high activity level (meeting above criteria) in the last 25 y.

3.2.2. Main Study Exclusion Criteria

1. Subject requires assistance with any activity of daily living, excluding continence.
2. Subject lives in an institutional setting (skilled nursing facility or residential care facility for the elderly).
3. Abnormal bleeding or coagulopathy (self-report): History of a bleeding disorder, wound healing disorder or clotting abnormality.
4. Female participants must be post-menopause.
5. Musculoskeletal conditions that would prevent completion of any required exercise testing.
6. Elevated blood pressure readings (screening test): Resting Systolic Blood Pressure (SBP) ≥150 mmHg or resting Diastolic Blood Pressure (DBP) ≥90 mmHg
7. Diabetes (self-report and screening tests): Treatment with any hypoglycemic agents (self-report), fasting glucose >125 mg/dL (screening test; may reassess once), use of hypoglycemic drugs for non-diabetic reasons (self-report).
8. Pulmonary (self-report): Clinical diagnosis of any chronic pulmonary disease that limits exercise capacity.
9. Cardiovascular (self-report, screening test, and clinician judgement): Congestive heart failure, coronary artery disease, significant valvular disease, congenital heart disease, serious arrhythmia, pulmonary embolism, stroke, or symptomatic peripheral artery disease (self-report, screening test). Specific criteria used to determine whether a volunteer can undergo the screening CPET follow the American Heart Association (AHA) Criteria [6]. Inability to complete the CPET. Reassessment of the CPET may be allowed under some circumstances (e.g., test was not a maximal effort)
10. Abnormal blood lipid profile (screening test): Fasting triglycerides >500 mg/dL. Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) >190 mg/dL
11. Cancer (self-report): History of cancer treatment (other than non-melanoma skin cancer, or chronic lymphocytic leukemia) and not "cancer-free "for at least 2 years. Anti-hormonal therapy (e.g., for breast or prostate cancer) within the last 6 months.
12. Chronic active or latent infection (self-report): Active or latent infections requiring chronic antibiotic or anti-viral treatment, excluding herpes simplex virus. Chronic active infection whether on chronic antimicrobials or not. Human Immunodeficiency Virus. Active hepatitis B or C undergoing antiviral therapy. Individuals successfully treated for hepatitis C and virologically negative for at least 6 months are not excluded.
13. Liver enzyme tests (alanine transaminase, aspartate transaminase) (screening test): >2 times the laboratory upper limit of normal. Reassessment during screening may be allowed under some conditions (e.g., recent use of acetaminophen). Individuals may be referred to their PCP for evaluation; any medication change must be stable for ≥3 months prior to retesting.
14. Chronic renal insufficiency (screening test): Estimated glomerular filtration rate <60 mL/min/1.73 m2 from serum creatinine (mg/dL) by the Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration equation. Subjects must be able to produce urine. Reassessment may be allowed under some conditions (e.g., questionable hydration status or other acute renal insult)
15. Hematocrit (screening test): Hematocrit >3 points outside of the local normal laboratory ranges for women and men. Reassessment may be allowed under certain conditions. Individuals may be referred to their PCP for evaluation; any medication change must be stable for ≥3 months prior to retesting.
16. Blood donation (self-report): Whole blood donation in the last 3 months or plans for blood donation during the entire protocol period. Platelet or plasma donation in the last week or plans for platelet or plasma donation during the entire protocol period.
17. Autoimmune disorders (self-report): Individuals receiving any active systemic treatment (including immunosuppressants and/or monoclonal antibodies) within the last 6 months.
18. Alcohol consumption (self-report): Current consumption of more than 7 drinks per week for women More than 14 drinks per week for men. History of binge drinking in the past five years (≥5 drinks for males or ≥4 drinks for females in a 2-hour period more than once per month)
19. Tobacco (self-report): Current smokers: any tobacco or e-cigarette/e-nicotine products. Former smokers: Stopped smoking <10 years at time of screening for those with a ≥20 pack-year smoking history. Stopped smoking <5 years at time screening for those with a <20 pack-year smoking history.
20. Recreational drug use (self-report): Self-reported use ≥3 days/week in any form
21. Shift workers (self-report): Night shift work in the last 6 months. Planning night shift work during the study period.
22. Cognitive status (screening): Unable to give consent to participate in and safely complete the protocol, as based on the judgement of the investigators.
23. Psychiatric illness (self-report and screening test): Hospitalization for any psychiatric condition within one year (self-report).
24. Weight change (self-report): Weight change (intentional or not) over the last 2 months of >5% of body weight. Plan to lose or gain weight during the study
25. Lidocaine or other local anesthetic allergy (self-report): Known allergy to lidocaine or other local anesthetic
26. COVID-19 infection: Individuals who tested positive for COVID-19 but were not hospitalized must be symptom free, at least 14 days (without a negative antigen test) or symptom-free at least 7 days with a negative antigen test on the day of the study visit. A PCR test can be used if antigen tests are not available.
27. Other (clinician judgement): Genetic metabolic disorders that could affect metabolomic results (e.g., phenylketonuria). Any other cardiovascular, pulmonary, orthopedic, neurologic, psychiatric, metabolic, or other conditions that, in the opinion of the local clinician, would preclude participation and successful completion of the protocol. Any other illnesses that, in the opinion of the local clinician, would negatively impact or mitigate participation in and completion of the protocol.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Number of groups / cohorts

2

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort	Intervention / Treatment
Group 1 cohort: Healthy Older Adults (HOA); This cohort will include healthy older adults, aged 65y or over, who participate in less than 60 minutes of structured exercise each week.	Other: Observational; No intervention
Group 2 cohort: Elite Older Athletes (EOA); This cohort will include healthy older adults, aged 65y or over, who are elite athletes for their age (determined by interview and VO2max)	Other: Observational; No intervention

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Muscle cellular aging - spatial transcriptomics	Differences between athletes and sedentary in muscle spatial transcriptomic between OEA and HOA groups	Day 2
Muscle cellular aging - single cell transcriptomics	Differences between athletes and sedentary in muscle single cell transcriptomic between OEA and HOA groups	Day 2

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Differences between concentration of proteins in the muscle	Proteomic analysis to measure differences in protein abundance in EOA vs HOA	Day 2
Differences between concentration of metabolites in the muscle	Metabolomic analysis to measure differences in metabolite abundance in EOA vs HOA	Day 2
Differences between function of muscle mitochondria	Analysis of respiratory function of isolated mitochondria	Day 2
Blood metabolites	Metabolic analysis: differences between athletes and sedentary in blood metabolites	Day 2
Blood proteins	Proteomic analysis: differences between athletes and sedentary in blood protein concentration	Day 2
Blood cell immune function	Differences between athletes and sedentary in blood cell immune function	Day 2
Blood cell gene expression	Differences between athletes and sedentary in blood cell gene expression	Day 2
Urine metabolites	Differences between athletes and sedentary in urine metabolites	Day 2
Physical function - VO2 max	Oxygen uptake measured during a ramp test on a bicycle ergometer	Day 1
Physical function - grip strength	Measured in both hands using a dynamometer	Day 1
Physical function - 6 minute walk test	Measure distance covered in 6 minutes on an indoor walk track	Day 1
Physical function - short physical performance battery	SPBB includes balance, gait speed and chair sit tests, consolidated to one score	Day 1
Physical function - leg strength	Maximal leg press weight will be determined on a gym machine via progressive increases in weight	Day 1
Physical function - leg press fatigue	70% of the maximal leg press weight will be used. Subjects will complete as many repetitions as possible of the 70% weight and number of repetitions will be recorded.	Day 1

Other Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Body composition - BIA	Body composition measured by bioelectrical impedance	Day 1
Body composition - muscle mass	Total muscle mass measured by D3 creatine supplement followed by urine collection	Day 2
Cognitive function - Montreal Cognitive Assessment	Paper and interview based test that measures multiple domains of function	Day 1
Cognitive function - digit symbol substitution	Paper based test that involves matching symbols and numbers in a set time.	Day 1
Cognitive function - trails A and B	Paper based test that involves joining numbers or numbers and letters in series, as fast as possible.	Day 1
Social determinants of health	Assessed by Upstream Risks paper based self-complete questionnaire	Day 1
Sleep quality questionnaire	Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index assessed by paper based self-complete questionnaire	Day 1
Overal function perception	SF-36 (Short Form 36) validated questionnaire (paper based, self complete) that determines ease of completion of different life activities.	Day 1
Depression	Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) validated questionnaire (paper based, self complete) that assesses presence of depression symptoms	Day 1

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Buck Institute for Research on Aging
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: John C Newman, MD PhD, Buck Institute

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Harridge SD, Lazarus NR. Physical Activity, Aging, and Physiological Function. Physiology (Bethesda). 2017 Mar;32(2):152-161. doi: 10.1152/physiol.00029.2016.
• Duggal NA, Pollock RD, Lazarus NR, Harridge S, Lord JM. Major features of immunesenescence, including reduced thymic output, are ameliorated by high levels of physical activity in adulthood. Aging Cell. 2018 Apr;17(2):e12750. doi: 10.1111/acel.12750. Epub 2018 Mar 8.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): September 19, 2024
• Primary Completion (Estimated): December 1, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): May 1, 2027

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: July 26, 2024
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: August 5, 2024
• First Posted (Actual): August 6, 2024

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): October 8, 2024
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: October 4, 2024
• Last Verified: October 1, 2024

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Biomarkers; Healthy older adults; Older elite athletes
• Other Study ID Numbers: BUCK_2401

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No